Super Eagles fullback Ola Aina suffered a possible calf-related injury during Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the City Ground on Tuesday night.
Aina, who started the match, was forced off in the 39th minute and replaced by Alex Moreno.
The Nigeria international was seen hobbling off the pitch, aided by a member of the Forest medical team, in what could be a significant setback for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side as they push for a UEFA Champions League spot and remain in the FA Cup hunt.
The 28-year-old has been an integral part of Nottingham Forest’s campaign, making key contributions both defensively and offensively.
Aina was ranked among the top players in Europe’s top five leagues for possession won, having regained possession 150 times this season.
The possession regain metric accounts for crucial defensive actions such as tackles, aerial duels won, interceptions, blocked crosses, and shield outs.
Despite his brief time on the pitch against Manchester United, Aina still managed an impressive performance, completing 91% of his passes, blocking a shot, and preventing any opponent from dribbling past him.
His influence on the team has been crucial, and his absence could be a major blow for Forest’s aspirations.
With this win, Nottingham Forest solidified their position in the Premier League’s top four, sitting third with 57 points from 30 matches.
With eight games till the end of the campaign, Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo will hope the injury is not a long-term setback.
